Negligée gown.



L. ST: LEON. NEGLIGEE GOWN. APPLICATION man APR-29, I9l6.

Patented Mar. 5; 1918,

2 SHEETS-SHEET l- WITNESS INVENTOR .Z7'7/rarz 457536022.

BY A tlomeys NEGLIGEE GOWN.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 29. 1916.

1,258,376. Patented Mar. 5, 1918.

INVENTOR WITNESS LILLIAN sr. LEON, or NEWYORK, N. r.

anemone GOWN.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed April 29, 1916. Serial No. 94,328.

To old whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, LILLIAN Sr. LEON, a citizen of the United States, residing in the city .of New York, borough of Manhattan, county and State of New York, have invented a certain new and useful Neglige Gown, of which the following is a specification.

This invention is a neglige gown and particularly adapted for use as a house-dress, wrapper or maternity garment. The object of the invention is to provide an article of wearing apparel which, while loose and flowing, of pleasing and attractive appearance, and entirely devoid of the bagginess and shapclessness heretofore inherent in gowns of this general class.

With the foregoing objects in view, the present invention embodies combined skirt and waist portions, preferably integral, and provided with loose flowing sleeves of the kimono type, so formed that said sleeves cooperate with the remainder of the structure to form the front and back of the garment. The back of the garment drapes gracefully from the shoulders in loose, flowing folds, while the front thereof isgathered or wrapped tightly about the front and sides of the body of the wearer by means of an elastic belt portion, positioned at the back of the wearer and concealed from View by the back and sleeves. A suitable neck opening is provided and the gown opens in the front from the neck opening downwardly substantially to the hip line. The front opening is normally maintained closed by non-resilient belt portions, which over-lap one another and are detachably secured to gcther at the front of the waist line, and cooperating attaching means intermediate the waist line and the shoulder portions. The

elastic belt portion is adapted to closely w up the front of the garment about the waist of the wearer while the rear portion of said garment is free to drape itself in long, flowin folds. As a result,.the gar ment, viewer: from the front, fits the wearer snugly about the waist. line and is thus very neat and pleasing in appearance, yet, withall entirely comfortable.

Features of the invention, other than those specified, will be apparentfrom the following description read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

The accompanying drawings illustrate one practical embodiment of the present invention, but the showing made is to be un derstood as illustrative, only, and not as de fining the limits of the invention.

Figure 1 is a threeouartcr front and side elevation of a garment embodying the pres ent invention properly draped on a wearer.

Fig. 2 is a three-quarter back and side elevation of the gown and wearer shown in Fig. 1, and

Fig. 3 is a back view of the gown removed from the person and laid out fiat, a portion of one of the sleeves and back being cut away in interest of clearness.

The garment is preferably constructed, in the main, of a single piece of material A which is doubled intermediate its ends to bring its free ends into juxtaposition. The material is initially of such length that, when doubled, the resulting structure will be in length substantially equal to, or slightly less than, the distance from the shoulders of the wearer to the floor. The adjacent lateral edges a of the material are united in seams b from the lower edge of the garment upwardly to substantially the hip line, as at b, the remainder of said edges being left unattached to form the scyes B of the garment. The garment opens in the front from substantially the hip line, as at 0, which openingextends upwardly, and increases in width, to a point just beyond the fold-over, thereby forlninga neck opening C through which the head of the wearer may be passed when the garment is slipped on. The edges 0 of the material adjacent to the opening C are adapted to be over-lapped to close the front of the garment, and a snap catch, hook and eye, or other securing means 0 may cooperate with said adjacent edges limiting the depth of the opening 0.

As stated, the lateral edges of the material forming the garment are free from attachment from the hip line Z) upwardly, and because of this fact, the back of said garment, when the garment is positioned upon the wearer, droops downwardly in loose flowing folds from the shoulders and arms of the wearer, it being understood that the width of the material A from which the garment is made is of such extent that it projects a substantial distance beyond the shoulders of the wearer and forms the arm coverings as shown more particularly in Figs. 1 and 2. j i

In contra-distinction to the loose flowing effect at the back of the garment, the front thereof is adapted to be drawn tightly about Patented Mar. 5, 1918.

the waist of the wearer. To produce this result, an elastic tape D is secured at its opposite ends to the lateral edges a of the front portion of the gari'nent and at the waist line thereof. lVhen the garment is on the wearer, the elastic tape D is adapted to overlie her back at the waist line, and the tension of said tape is such as to draw the forward portion of said garment around the front and sides of the body.

In order to give a more pleasing or dressy effect, two non-elastic belt portions d extend from the lateral edges a to meet and overlap one another at the front of the garment. The elastic tape D is anchored at its opposite ends in the adjacent ends of the belt portions (Z whereby, when the belt portions (Z are wrapped about the wearer and secured at the front in over-lapped position by means of suitable fastening devices d, all strain due to the tension of the elastic tape D will be carried by the belt portion (Z and tearing or straining of the fabric, from which the gown is made, is obviated.

The garment as thus far described might, if desired, be employed as a complete gown, but, in such case, it would have the disadvantage that, when in place on the wearer, if the arms of the latter were thrown back, the sleeves might be distended to such extent as to expose the under garments, such as petticoats and lingerie.

In order to obviate this difliculty, a sheet of fabric E is incorporated in the back of the gown, said sheet extending from the waist line downwardly to, or slightly beyond, the bottom of the side openings. The upper edge of said fabric E is provided with a hem 6 through which the elastic tape D passes. The lateral edges of fabric E are attached to the edges of the front skirt portion in seams b the latter forming continuations of the seams Z), which secure the lower part of the front and back skirt portions together. The fabric E is preferably cut away along its lower edge, as at e for reasons which will be manifest. Fabric E is of a light and flexible nature so that it will not preclude the proper operations of the elastic D, said tape serving to normallyshirr the hem of the fabric as clearly shown in Fig. 3. With the construction described, the under garments are covered at all times, irrespective of the position of the arms of the wearer.

In order that the sleeves may properly droop themselves over the arms of the wearer, I preferably sew short tapes f witl1- in the sleeve portions, the opposite ends of the tapes being secured to the front and rear portions of the, sleeve and at such distance from the fold-over thereof as to allow of'the passing of the arms of the wearer intermediate the tape andthe fold ovcr. 'These ing folds thereby enhancing the esthetic appearance of the gown.

It will, of course, be understood that the gown may be provided with a suitable collar, or with flounces or other desired ornamentation as fashion may suggest, but such orna lnentation forms no part of the present in ventlon. i

It will be manifest from the foregoing description that the invention embodies many novel structural features which, when employed, in combination, result in more pleasing esthetic effects and functional advantages than are inherent in the gowns of the prior art. Furthermore, when the gown is in posi tion on the wearer, the back is entirely closed and the elastic tape, which extends across the back, serves to automatically wrap tl e front of the, gown about the waist line of the body. Moreover, the strain occasioned. by the elastic tape is not transmitted to the fabric, from which the gown is made, but is taken up by the short belt portions 03, thereby very materially adding to the durability of the gown.

The gown is exceptionally easy to slip on as the front opens down to the hip line, said front opening being normally maintained in.

closed and sightly form by the fastening devices 0 and the short belt portions cl. The gown thus covers the body quite completely and yet without encumbrance to the wearer. In other words, there is just sufficient fabric incorporated in the gown to adequately clothe the figure,thus avoiding surplusage of material and contributing to the economy of making.

A further feature and important advantage resides in the fact that all fastening devices necessary to secure the garment in place upon the wearer are at the front of the garment, thereby being readily accessible and observable during the attaching operation. The necessityof fastening devices in the back of the garment which, ordinarily, can only be located with diflieulty, are entirely dispensed with, thus resulting in a gown much easier to don. Moreover, the open front takes away the bare, baggy ap pearance so detractful in manyof the closed front gowns.

The invention, therefore, is more than a mere wrapper or neglige, and is of such esthetic and attractive appearance that it may be properly worn as a house-dress, being as it is, withinall the conventions characteristic of such garments.

Having thus fully described the invention. What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. A neglig'e gown embodying skirt and waist portions, and provided with a neck opening extending downwardly to the hip line and with arm scyesextending, from the shoulders downwardly also toth'e hip: line,

an elastic tape secured at its opposite ends to the forward edges of the scyes atsuch points that, when the garment ison the wearer, the elastic tape will extend around. her back while the tension of the tapewill draw the front part of the gown, i.11ter1nediate the points of the attachment of the tape, snugly about the front and sides of the wearer, complementary belt portions cured to the ends of the tape and provided. at their opposite ends with attaching means, said belt portions being adapted to be passed about the sides of the wearer and secured together at the front for the purpose of bearing the tension of the elastictape and taking the strain of such tension off of the fabric from whichthe garment is made, said belt portions also serving to close the front opening of the gown from the hip line upwardly beyond the waist line.

2. A neglige gown embodying skirt and waist portions and provided with a neck opening extending downwardly to the hip line and arm scyes extending from the shoulders also downwardly to the hip line, an elastic tape secured at its opposite ends to the forward edges of the scyes at such points that, when the garment is on the wearer, the elastic tape will extend around her back at substantially the waist-line while the ten sion of the tape will draw the front part of the gown, intermediate the points of the at tachment of the tape, snugly about the front and sides of the wearer, conqalementary belt portions secured to the ends of the tape and provided at their opposite ends with attaehing means, said belt portions secured to the ends of the tape and provided at their opposite ends with attaching means, said belt portions being adapted to be passed about the sides of the wearer and secured together at the front for the purpose of bearing the tension of the elastic tape and taking the strain of such tension off of the fabric from which the garment is made, said belt portions also serving to close the front opening of the gown from the hip line upwardly beyond the waist line, the rear portion of the gown being unattacl'led at the waist line, whereby it hangs from the shoulders in loose, flowing, folds, and a fabric provided at its upper edge with a hem embracing the elastic tape and secured at its late "al edges to the corresponding edges of the scyes, said fabric extending downwardly to the base of the scyes, whereby the undergarments of the wearer are concealed from view through the scyes.

3. A neglige gown embodying skirt and waist portions and provided with a neck opening extending down the front of the garment substantially to the hip line and having scyes extending from the shoulders downwardly substantially to the hip line, a belt portion adapted to encircle the body of the wearer in such manner as to underlie the backportion of thegown and over-lie the front portion thereof, said belt portion passing from the interior to the exterior of the gown through the scyes thereof, and a part of said belt portion being ofelastic material, whereby the belt wraps the forward portion of the garment snugly about the wearer at the waist line and maintains the front opening in closed form from the hip line upwardly beyond the waist line, and a sheet of fabric secured to that portion of the belt which over-lies the back of the wearer, internally of the gown, such fabric being secured at its opposite ends to the adjacent forward edges of the scyes, whereby the undergarments of the wearer are con.- cealed from view through the scyes.

4;. A neglige gown embodying skirt and waist portions and provided with a neck opening extending downwardly to the hip line and arm scyes extending from the shoulders downwardly also to the hip line, an elastic tape secured at its opposite ends to the forward edges of the arm scyes at such points that, when the garment is on the wearer, the elastic tape will extend around her back while the tension of the tape will draw the front part of the gown, intermediate the points of attachment of said tape, snugly about the front and sides of the wearer, means for normally closing the front opening from the hip line upwardly to such extent as is desired, and an apron portion suspended from the elastic tape and secured at its lateral edges to the front edges of the arm scyes, whereby it is adapted to overlie the seat of the wearer for the purpose of concealing the undergarments from View through the arm scyes.

5. A neglige gown embodying skirt and waist portions, the skirt portion being closed from the bottom substantially to the hip line and the waist portion having a neck opening and arm scyes extending downwardly substantially to the hip line, and a belt, having an elastic portion, adapted to encircle the body of the wearer in such manner as to underlie the back portion of the gown and overlie the front portion thereof, said belt passing from the interior to the exterior of the gown through the arm scyes thereof and being entirely free of attachment with the back portion, whereby the belt wraps the forward portion of the garment snugly about the wearer at the waist line and maintains the front opening in closed form from the hip line upwardly beyond the waist line, while the back hangs from the shoulders in loose, flowing folds.

6. A neglige gown embodying skirt and waist portions and provided with a neck opening extending downwardly to the hip line and arm scyes extending from the shoulders downwardly also to the hip line, the skirt portion being seamed up at the sides from the bottom of the gown substantially to the hip line, an elastic tape secured at its opposite ends to the forward edges of the scyes at such points that, when the garment is on the wearer, the elastic tape will extend around her back substantially at the waist line, while the tension of the tape will draw the front part of the gown, intermediate the points of attachment of the tape, snugly about the front and sides of the wearer, and means for normally closing the front opening from the hip line upwardly to such extent as is desired, the rear portion of the gown being unattached at the waist line, whereby it hangs from the shoulders in loose, flowing folds.

7. A neglige gown embodying skirt and waist portions, the skirt portion being closed from the bottom to substantially the hip line, and the waist portion having a neck opening and arm scyes extending downwardly to substantially the hip line, an elastic member secured at its opposite ends to the forward edges of the arm scyes V member, thereby relieving the forward portion of the gown of the strain to which it would otherwise be subjected.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification.

LILLIAN ST. LEON.

Copies 0! this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner 0! Patents.

Washington, D. C. 

